Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-12-07
The vresident,s Message.

A scribbler on a local paper the
other day who probably never read
book on political economy, nor ever saw
the tariff schedule on whichour revenue
system is based, referred to the Presi-
dents message in advance of its APP
pearance. His way OF speaking OF the
coming document was asthe production
ofthe "vapid and verbose Cleveland. !"
The accomplishment OF a stupid it
Grafton was probably his highest
reach Of purpose in the phrase. Were
it not that his mind has not been
strengthened since he wrote this by
either internal growth or by perus-
ing any production of a better
informed person than himself,
the hope might be expressed that
the message he finds in his paper
this morning would change his opin-
ion. But probably he thinks the same
of it now it has come, as he did be-
fore lie knew what it was to contain,
or in what style it was to be dressed.
But to the better informed and more
thoughtful people of the country, Mr..
Cleveland's annual message will ap-
pear to be very careful, able and
sound State paper. 1t will, more
over, dispel great many more
definite and harmful mistakes
than that above referred to-
To all those who know the Pres
ident but indifferently or not at all, it
will be a huge surprise. To those who
know the man for what he really is,
it will be accepted as perfectly nat
ural outgiving on the important sub
ject with which the paper concerns
itself. The men who do not know,
and will not learn, what manner OF
man Mr.. Cleveland is, think he is a
mere politician, with no higher pur-
pose in his mind than trimming his
sails to catch all winds that blow.
These predicted that the message
would beat about the bush on every
proposition. The paper does any,
thing but confirm their views. Leav-
ing all other topics of discussion to the
heads of departments to deal with,
the President addresses himself to the
most material question of national
interest to-day-the prevention OF
gigantic accumulation Of surplus re-
venue, arising from war tariff sche-
dule still existing twenty years after
the circumstances passed away which
called it into existence. To this ex-
travagant revenue system, and to the
evils growing out of the withdrawal of
so much money from the channels of
industry, more than to any other
cause or combination of causes, is
to be attributed the down
fall of the Republican party.
This it was Which pared down the big
majorities by which that party was
wont to sweep the Northwest. In
Minnesota we have majority OF the
delegation to Congress. Wisconsin is
held to Republicanism by very inse-
cure tenure. Iowa is no longer the
political jug she used to be with her
big handle in the hands OF the Re-
publican leaders. New Hampshire is
tied in her Congressional delegation on
the same grounds, the Democratic
representative having won his seat on
the direct issue of tariff reform.
In New York we see the whilom
Free Trade Herald and the High Pro-
lection Times agreeing for the nonce
that the present tariff schedule must
be revised, and the revenue reduced,
if the finances of the people are to be
saved from ruin.
Another class of people in the
Union will be as greatly surprised as
are those who thought Mr.. Cleveland
would not commit himself to any pol
lev. This class is composed OF
q mixture OF mendacity and in
ignorance, and by these
they have been able
time out of mind to proclaim
in their weak way that the Democratic
party holds to the doctrine of Free
Trade. Millionaire monopolies, the
creatures, and in turn the earnest
Of the Republican party,
have SO reiterated their false views
upon the results Of the high tariff {
system under which they grew, that I